Trimming apparatus for molded rubber articles



Nov. 21, 1939. I T, w, MORRIS 2.180,604

TRIMMING APPARATUS FOR MOLDED RUBBER ARTICLES Filed'Aug. '6, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 1 five/22 07" 2224.9 @0237? www- NOV. 21, 1939. w MORRIS 2.180304 TRIMMING APPARATUS FOR MOLDED RUBBER ARTICLES I Filed Au e, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I 2/ #1 57 if 44' I a. 2i 4/ 53 v fli J34 40 1 J29 I 4 2 jg Nov. 21, 1939. T. w. MORRIS V TRIMMING APPARATUS FOR MOLDED RUBBER ARTICLES Filed Aug. 6, 1938 .3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 21, 1939 wires stares PATENT OFFlCE TRIMIMING APPARATUS FOR MOLDED RUBBER ARTICLES 15 Claims.

My invention relates to trimming machines for molded rubber products such as heels or the like, and is directed particularly to improved means for automatically aligning the heels in the machine to ensure the entire rind being cut therefrom.

This improved means is shown herein in combination withtrimming apparatus of the character covered by my prior Patents Nos. 1,900,000 and 1,361,531.

In trimming apparatus of the above character two cutting operations are involved, the first to trim rind. or overflow from the outer convex portion of the heel, and the second to trim rind from the breast or concave portion thereof. The heels are transferred from the first cutter to the second, by means of a belt conveyor or the like, and it is during this transfer from one cutter to the other that the heel must be precisely aligned in such a manner that the breast is eificiently trimmed. The nature of the latter alignment operation is such that the position of the heel, when discharged from the first cutter and deposited. upon the conveyor is the determining factor as to the ultimate position of the heel when presented to the second cutter, and this ultimate position is determinative as to whether or not the entire rind will be trimmed from the breast.

In View of the fact that heels operated upon by the disclosed mechanism are somewhat tacky fromthe heat-molding process, they tend to jam or cling to adjacent parts of the machine, and when this occurs they shift from their proper position or are discharged from the first cutter in. varying relative positions. It is therefore highly desirable that some means be provided to realign the heel before it is finally discharged upon the conveyor, and furthermore that this means be such that the traction between the heel and said means he reduced to a minimum.

To the end that this realignment may be accomplished, and furthermore to the end that the realignment be automatic, thus eliminating the necessity of manipulative experience or skill on the part of the operator, and as an important object of the invention, there is provided herein improved guide means for engaging an improperly positioned heel as it is discharged from the first cutter, which guide means realigns the h el and discharges it in a predetermined relative position upon the conveyor. It will be seen that this guide means also aids in finally aligning heels which are discharged in the proper manner from the first cutter, this latter alignment being accomplished by a lateral shifting of the'heel on the conveyor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide guide means of the above character which engages a misaligned heel or the like and realigns it without forcing or jamming action, but rather which permits free, non-rotative movement of the heel toward its discharge point while the realignment is taking place, this realignment occurring by the combined forces of the, forward movement of the heel on the conveyor, the abutment thereof against the adjacent guide means, and the turning effect of a rotating platform upon which the heel rests during the trimming operation.

Another important advantage of my invention arises out of the fact that if a heel is not properly discharged from the first, cutter, it may clog the machine and cause a piling up of the heels. This results in great delay and furthermore may cause mutilation of a number of the heels. With the device disclosed herein this clogging is substantially obviated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide guide means of the above character which is adjustable to accommodate heels of varying sizes. The adjustment likewise may be simply accomplished to obviate the necessity of manipulative skill and experience on the part of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide-improved, resilient holding means for holding the heel in its proper position during the cutting operation Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine generally;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View showing the positions normally assumed by the heel during the first trimmingoperation and during the dis-' charge therefrom; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the manner in which a misaligned heel is realigned.

It. is to be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein, while preferred, is for illustrative purposes only and may be changed or modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set out in the appended claims.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the trimming apparatus constitutes generally a working surface or table l0, cut away as at H to provide for the various operating elements which trim, convey and direct the movement of the heels being processed. These operating elements include principally a pair of conveyors l2 and I3 which move in the direction of the arrows, a first trimming mechanism I4, and a second trimming mechanism I5. Suitable motive power is transmitted to the conveyors through belt l6, pulley I1, and drive shaft 18, while like power is transmitted to the knives l9 and 23 of the mechanism l4 through belts 2| and 22 respectively, pulleys 23 and 24 respectively, and drive shafts 25 and 26 respectively,

The heels are stored near the head of the mechanism as shown at 21, and are moved by the operator to the position shown at 21a, in which latter position the breast portion faces forward and the side of the heel engages a roller guide comprising rollers 28 mounted on a plate 29. The rollers 28 are raised above the upper surface of the table II] in order that the rind may extend therebeneath to permit abutment of the side of the heel.

The operator then moves the heel toward the cutting discs [9 and 20, maintaining the abutment between the side thereof and the rollers 28, until the rind is grasped between the engaging edges of the discs, at which time the body of the heel assumes a position over the rotating platform or support 30. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that this support 30 is mounted on the upper end of a drive shaft 3| which is suitably connected with the source of power for rotating it in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 throughout the operation of the mechanism. It will be seen that as the rind on the convex side of the heel is trimmed therefrom, the heel must rotate to bring it into edge contact with the engaging knives from corner to corner. This is accomplished herein by the rotating-grasping action of the knives themselves, and by the rotation of the support 30. When the rind has been cut from the convex edge the heel will have assumed a position with the breast directed toward the rear and will be thus discharged onto the conveyor [2 in readiness to be transferred to the second cutter. Under normal circumstances, in order that the breast be properly presented to the second cutter, the heel should be so positioned at this discharge that the breast is on the following side and is aligned at substantially to the center line of the conveyor l2, as shown by position 7 of Fig. 4.

As previously stated, due to tackiness, or due to variations in the nature and size of the rind, the heel may stick to adjacent parts of the machine or may be released by the knives of the first cutter when in misalignment, and it is to the realignment of the heel under these conconditions that an important feature of the present invention is directed.

'Referring first to the manner in which the heel is conducted to the second trimmer from the previously explained discharge position, in Fig. 1 a deflecting element 32 is shown extending obliquely across the conveyor l2. As the heel is carried forward by the conveyor it strikes the deflector and rolls therealong until it is deposited on the conveyor l3. When the heel is discharged onto the conveyor l2 in its proper alignment it moves forward to a position shown at 33 into engagement with the deflector, the breast then: moving forward through a. radial path, due to the rolling action, until the heel is discharged onto the conveyor in the position shown at 34. When in this position it will be seen that the breast is aligned so that it moves forward on the conveyor l3 to abut rollers 35 on plate 36, whence it moves beneath a resilient holder 31 (as shown at 38) until the junction of the breast and the rind thereon is grasped by the cutter I 5a and its companion cutter (not shown). After the latter cutting operation the heel is discharged completely trimmed. A yieldably mounted heel holder plate I511, having rollers I50, a slot l5d through which a wing nut assembly l5e extends, is associated with the second cutter l5 to facilitate the trimming operation. The slot and wing nut combination is advantageous in that it permits simple adjustment to accommodate heels of various sizes. Any suitable means may be provided for imparting yielding movement to the plate I 522, for example, as shown herein, the plate is mounted at the end of a carrier bar I521 pivoted as at |5g and having a tension spring l5h suitably secured to the remote end thereof,

Referring now to the improved means for aligning the heel so that the rolling action against the deflector 32 will bring it onto the conveyor E3 in proper position: A guide plate 39 is located across the conveyor l2 from the knives I9 and 20. This plate also has a slot 40 therein through which a stud and wing-nut assembly 4| extends,

thus enabling the operator to loosen the nut and move the plate toward or away from the knives to accommodate heels of varying sizes. If desired, the table ll may be marked in the vicinity of the plate and a series of marks may be made on the plate to direct the operator in making adjustments for the various sizes of heels.

The inner edge of the plate 39 extends angularly of the center line of the conveyor [2 and has mounted thereon rollers 42 similar to the rollers 28 and 35. For convenience, the rollers 42 have been designated A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H if Fig. 4. If, as shown in the latter figure, the heel does not become misaligned during the first cutting operation, but follows substantially a path of travel indicated by positions I to l in Fig. 4, then merely the roller A and perhaps the roller B will engage the side of the heel to move it laterally to properly align it so that positions 33, 34 and 38 of Fig. 1 are attained.

If, however, the heel, due to tackiness or for any other reason should be delayed in its release from the grasping action of the cutters l9 and 29, or if for any reason it should be prematurely released so that the breast faces the cutter and the heel, generally, noses outwardly of the conveyor l2, (see position I of Fig. 5), some of the rollers C to H, toward the rear of the plate 39, will engage the adjacent point of the convex wall of the heel, while the breast portion of the lower surface thereof will rest upon the top of the platform 30. When the heel is in this position the rollers 42 which it engages (E and F in Fig. 5) serve as pivot points about which it begins to rotate under the rotative effect of the platform 33 upon the breast portion thereof. The progression of the heel during this rotating or pivoting movement from a position of misalignment to a position wherein the breast is substantially at 90 to the longitudinal center line of the conveyor I2, is clearly shown by positions I, 2, and 3 of Fig. 5. Upon assuming position 3, the heel has passed from the upper surface of the platform 39 and has become properly positioned on the conveyor l2, and it is then drawn forward by the movement of the latter. Duringthis forward progression it is shifted laterally of the conveyor by the subsequent rollers 42 until it reaches position 7 of Fig. l, at which point it is discharged in its correct relative position and in correct lateral alignment on the conveyor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a roller guide element which affords a non-jamming, anti-friction, heel guiding, abutment edge for molded rubber heels. This guide element operates efficiently regardless of the condition of the heels with respect to tackiness, and together with the rotating action of theplatform or support 3%, moves misaligned heels into their proper position on the conveyor as they are discharged from the first cutter. This realignment, furthermore, is entirely automatic and is accomplished without manipulation on the part of the operator.

It will be seen that the abutment edge above referred to performs a dual function. The intermediate and rearward portion thereof serves to provide the pivotal engagement whereby a heel may be rotated with respect to the machine to cause it to point in the proper direction under the influence of the rotative effect of the platform upon the breast portion, and furthermore at its forward end it provides the anti-friction deflector for shifting the heel laterally of the conveyor so that it will abut the proper point of the deflector 32.

Still another factor which aids in the alignment of the heel is a resilient heel holding assembly comprising a roller element 43 rotatably secured at the lower end of a lever arm M. The roller 43 bears down against the upper surface of a heel being trimmed and is located above but off center of the platform or support 30. Thus the heel is maintained in its proper relative position on the platform 30 during the trimming operation.

There is disclosed herein improved means for mounting the roller 43 with its lever Ml in such a manner that it is limited in its downward movement toward the upper surface of the platform 36, but so that it may be moved upwardly by the insertion of the heel therebeneath to exert a yieldable downward force thereto. This means includes principally a single housing 45 shown in Fig. 3, having a passageway 46 therein through which the upper part of lever 54 may pass. Extending downwardly into the passage 46 is the lower end of the shank of a thumb screw 41, while a plunger element 48 is urged yieldably upwardly into the passage by a spring 49, the lower end of which bears against an adjustment screw 59 threaded into the lower end of the housing.

A mounting arm 5! extends integrally forward of the housing and has a hole 52 at the forward end thereof. The hole 52 is adapted to receive the horizontal arm 53 of a suitable standard 53a mounted on a table it], and may be tightly, non-rotatably fitted about the arm 53 by drawing the split sections 54 together through manipulation of the bolt 55. The lever arm 44 is suitably, pivotally mounted upon the arm 53 of the standard as by a mounting element 55 in which it is secured against longitudinal movement by a set screw 51. This mounting element receives an intermediate section of the lever 44 while the upper end of the latter extends through the passage 46 of the housing 45. Consequently-the limit of the downward movement of the roller 43 with its lever arm G4 may be determined by the setting of the thumb screw ll, while the degree of holding pressure may be governed by the setting of the screw 50. and the resulting compression of the spring 49 and upward bearing pressure of the plunger 48.

With the above construction the cost of manufacture is reduced considerably, since only a single housing is involved and furthermore both the assembly and adjustment operation are simplified. I

It will be understood that a holding assembly of the above character may be located at the second cutter to operate in the manner above described. 1

Those details of the mechanism generally which have not been specifically referred to herein are. fully explained in the above mentioned priorpatents, and are not elaborated upon herein since they have no particular bearing upon the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters patent of the United States is: I

1. In a trimming machine for trimming overflow from molded rubber heels or the like, in com- 2. In a heel trimming machine of the character described, the combination of a heel rotating means, a heel conveyor adapted to receive a heel from said means, heel trimming means for cutting rind from the convex edge of a heel as it is rotated by said means, and a guide element associated with said means and said conveyor, said guide element having an edge extending obliquely forwardly across said conveyor in the vicinity of said cutter and said rotating means, having over-extending. rollers along said edge and being adapted to engage the adjacent portion of the edge of a heel as it passes thereby on said conveyor to align said wheel upon the latter.

3. In a trimming machine for trimming the overflow from a molded rubber heel, the combination of'a cutter utilizing a pair of rotating shearing knives adapted to grasp the rind and draw the work forward as they trim, a rotating platform for supporting the heel and progressively feeding theedge thereof to the cutting portion of the knives, a conveyor belt for receiving the heel and transporting it away from the cutter, and aligning means for moving the heel upon the conveyor belt into a predetermined position, said aligning means comprising a forwardly, obliquely disposed deflector extending over the upper surface of the belt at the receiving end thereof, said deflector having anti-friction means at its rear, abutment edge and being adapted to provide pivotal engagement for the forward portion of a trimming rind from the convex edge of a heel, a second trimmer for trimming rind from the breast portion thereof, a first conveyor traveling between said first trimmer and said second trimmer, a second conveyor traveling parallelly and adjacent to said first conveyor, a first deflecting element associated with said first conveyor, said deflecting element affording an anti-friction, heel abutting edge, said edge extending obliquely, forwardly, part way across the first conveyor near the receiving end thereof, and a second deflector associated with said conveyors, said last named deflector affording a frictional abutment edge extending obliquely, forwardly, substantially entirely across said first conveyor toward the adjacent side edge of the second conveyor for delivering a heel from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in a predetermined position.

5. In a heel trimming machine of the character described, the combination of a heel trimming cutter, a rotating heel supporting platform associated with said cutter and upon which the heel rests and turns as the cutter trims rind from the convex portion thereof, a heel conveyor adapted to receive the heel from said platform upon the completion of the trimming operation, and heel aligning means adapted to abut a point or points on the fore portion of the convex wall of the heel and serve as a pivot for said portion as the breast portion still remaining on the platform is swung by the rotation of the latter into proper alignment while the heel is being picked up by the conveyor, said aligning means comprising a member having an edge extending forwardly obliquely across the conveyor in the vicinity of the platform and having traction reducing means along said edge, said traction reducing means being so positioned relative to said edge that the adjacent point or points of the convex wall of a heel will abut thereagainst.

6. In a heel trimming machine of the type utilizing edge engaging shearing discs as trimming elements for removing rind or the like, a rotating support or platform for progressively feeding the convex wall of a heel into adjacency with the cutters, and a conveyor belt associated with said machine for receiving a trimmed heel and transferring it from the cutter upon completion of the trimming operation on the convex wall thereof; guide means associated with said machine, said guide means comprising an element having an edge extending obliquely forwardly over the top surface of the conveyor at the receiving end thereof, said edge being adapted to engage the adjacent point of the wall of aheel being carried by said conveyor belt to align the same laterally thereon, means on the abutment edge of said guide means for providing anti-friction engagement between said heel and said edge.

'7. In a heel trimming machine of the type utilizing engaging shearing discs as trimming elements for removing rind or overflow, a rotating platform or support for progressively feeding the convex wall of a heel into adjacency with the point of engagement of the discs, and a conveyor belt associated with said machine for receiving a partly trimmed heel and discharging it from the cutter upon completion of the trimming operation upon the convex wall thereof; guide means associated with said machine, said guide means having an edge extending obliquely forwardly across the upper surface of said belt and extending from the rear of the belt to a point within the borders of and forwardly thereof, rollers on said edge, said rollers being associated with said edge to extend thereover to provide abutting engagement for heels which have been partly trimmed, the rollers toward the rear end of said edge being adapted to serve as pivots for a point or points on the fore portion of the convex wall of a misaligned heel as the breast portion still remaining on the platform is swung by the rotation of the latter into proper alignment while the heel is being picked up by the belt, the foremost rollers on said guide means being adapted to engage a heel so aligned or one discharged from the trimmer in proper alignment, and shift said heel laterally of the conveyor as it is carried by the latter to position the same in proper longitudinal alignment thereon for discharge toward subsequent operations in the machine.

8. In a trimming apparatus for molded rubber heels, in combination, a trimmer comprising a pair of cutting discs having shearing engagement, a rotating platform for supporting a heel during the trimming operation, a belt conveyor for receiving the heel from the platform upon completion of the cutting operation, and means associated with said platform and said conveyor for aligning the heel upon the latter, said means including a guide element having an anti-friction edge extending forwardly obliquely, part way across the upper siu'face of the receiving end of the conveyor.

9. In a trimming apparatus for molded rubber heels, in combination, a trimmer comprising a pair of cutting discs having shearing engagement, a rotating platform for supporting a heel during the trimming operation, a belt conveyor for receiving the heel from the platform upon completion of the cutting operation, means associated with said platform and said conveyor for aligning the heel upon the latter, said means including a guide element having an anti-friction edge extending forwardly obliquely, part way across the upper surface of the receiving end of the conveyor, and a yieldably, downwardly impelled roller engaging the upper surface of the heel when the latter rests upon said platform, said roller being aligned between the cutter and the axis of rotation of the platform.

10. In a heel trimming apparatus of the character described, a cutter assembly, a rotating platform for supporting the heel during the trimming operation, a conveyor belt for removing the heel from the platform upon completion of the trimming operation, a downwardly, yieldably impelled roller for engaging the upper surface of the heel during the trimming operation, means for mounting said roller, said means including a standard, a lever arm pivotally mounted on said standard, said lever arm having said roller rotatably secured to its lower end and having a housing at its upper end above the point of said pivot mounting with the standard, said housing being non-pivotally associated with said standard and having a passage therethrough for receiving the upper end of said lever arm, a set screw element operatively mounted through the upper end of the housing and extending downwardly and into said passage and into abutment with the upper side of said lever to limit the downward movement of the roller carrying end thereof, a plunger mounted in the lower portion of said housing and spring means bearing against the outer face of said plunger for yieldably urging the upper face thereof against the lower side of the lever at a point directly opposite that engaged by said set screw, and an adjustment screw having threaded engagement through the bottom of said housing and being adapted to engage the outer end of said spring to adjustthe expansive pressure applied thereby to the plunger and to thus regulate the yieldable downward pressure exerted by the roller upon the upper surface of the heel.

11. In a heel trimming apparatus of the character utilizing a rotating platform for feeding the edge of a heel to cutters during the trimming operation, means for holding the heel on said platform during the trimming operation, said means including apivoted lever arm having a roller element rotatably mounted at one end thereof, said roller element being adapted to engage the upper surface of a heel on said platform at a point between the cutter and the axis of rotation thereof, means for controlling the pivotal movement of the lever arm with the roller, said means including a stationary housing element, said element having a passage for receiving a portion of the lever arm toward the end remote from that bearing the roller and on the opposite side of the pivot point thereof, adjustable means extending downwardly from the upper part of the housing into said passage, said adjustable means being adapted to abut the upper side of the adjacent section of said arm to limit downward movement of the other end with said roller, means extending upwardly from the lower part of the housing into said passage, said means being adapted to abut the lower side of said arm at a point opposite to said first abutment, resilient means for urging said last named means into abutment with said lever and adjustable means for regulating the degree of resiliency imparted to said first abutting means.

12. Heel trimming apparatus of the character described comprising means for cutting rind from a molded rubber heel, conveyor means for transporting the heel away from the cutting means and means for positioning the heel upon the conveyor during the transportation of the heel, said last named means including a deflecting element having an obliquely, forwardly disposed, antifriction edge extending across the upper surface of said conveyor at the receiving end thereof and having a slot disposed laterally of said conveyor, means extending through said slot for clamping said positioning means in a predetermined position laterally relative to said conveyor.

13. Heel trimming apparatus of the character described comprising cutters for trimming the rind from molded rubber heels, a conveyor for transporting a heel away from the cutters, means affording an obliquely extending edge over the upper surface of the conveyor at the heel receiving end thereof, and means associated with said last named means for clamping the same in predetermined positions of adjustment to maintain said edge in predetermined lateral relationship with said conveyor.

14. Heel trimming apparatus of the character described, comprising means for cutting rind from a molded rubber heel, conveyor means for transporting the heel from the cutting means after the trimming operation, and heelpositioning means associated with said conveyor, said positioning means comprising a plate element having an edge extending obliquely, forwardly above the upper surface of the receiving end of the conveyor, means for mounting said plate to afford lateral adjustment of said edge relative to said conveyor, said means including a threaded stud mounted on said machine, an elongated slot in said plate, said slot extending laterally relative to said conveyor and being adapted to receive said stud means cooperating with said stud for clamping said plate therewith.

l5. Heel trimming apparatus of the character described, comprising cutters for trimming the rind from a part of the edge of molded rubber heels, conveyormeans for transporting partially trimmed heels away from the cutters, a second conveyor, said second conveyor being adapted to receive heels from said first conveyor preparatory to their being deposited on said second conveyor, said means comprising a plateelement having one edge extending obliquely forwardly above the upper surface of the receiving end of said first conveyor, anti-friction elements mounted on said edge and extending thereover, an elongated slot in said plate element, said slot being disposed laterally relative to said first conveyor when said edge is in its oblique position, a threaded stud on said machine, said stud being adapted to extend through said slot and to afiord movement of said plate element relative thereto, and a nut element adapted for cooperation with said stud to clamp said plate immovably on said machine in predetermined positions of adjustment on said stud.

THOMAS W. MORRIS. 

